Continuous mining machine



July 17, 1962 A. G. WILCOX, JR 3,044,753

CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE Filed Oct. 15, 1960 A meow G. \rJlLcox .12..

BY M da? -gwnw ATTORNEYS Patented July 17, 1962 ice 3,044,753 CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE Arnolu G. Wilcox, Jr., Raleigh, W. Va., assignor to Wilcox Manufacturing Company, Raleigh, W. Va., a corporation of West Virginia Filed Oct. 13, 1960, Ser. No. 62,405 6 Claims. (Cl. 262-9) This invention relates to mining machines and more particularly to mining machines of the continuous type adapted to substantially continuously cut material, such as coal or the like, from a vein and convey the material away from the vein.

Continuous mining machines are well-known and, in general, they fall into two classifications. First, borer type machines which usually have a rotary cutting head or heads disposed forwardly of the machine movable about a longitudinal axis or axes, the cutting head or heads having a diameter of a size to cut material in the vein sufficient to permit forward movement of the machine frame therethrough. Borer type machines usually operate by substantially continuous forward movement of the machine through the vein. Heretofore, such machines in actual coal mining practice, have been utilized only in relatively high seams.

The second general classification of continuous mining machines is the so-called ripper machines, which have a vertically movable cutting head operable to remove material from the vein by vertical movement with respect thereto. Usually the cutting head of a ripper machine has a width less than the width of the machine frame so that it is necessary to make more than one vertical movement into the vein at different lateral or transverse positions before the machine proper can be advanced with respect to the vein. Here again, in actual coal mining practice, the ripper machines are utilized mainly in high seams, that is, seams above 40 inches.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a continuous mining machine having a full width cutting head operable to cut material in a vein in one pass of a width suflicient to permit forward movement of the machine frame therethrough, the cutting head being mounted for vertical movement in the vein with respect to the machine frame.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a continuous mining machine of the type described having an improved cutting head, the cutting head having embodied therein a pair of left and right hand rotary auger sections operable in a position parallel to the mine face to dig or cut material from the mine face in a direction transverse to the axis of rotation and to simultaneously convey the cut material centrally into a position to be picked up by a continuous conveyor of the machine.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a continuous miner cutting head of the rotary type adapted to cut material from a mine vein with its axis disposed parallel to the face of the vein, the cutting head embodying spaced left and right hand auger sections adapted to cut the material from the vein and simultaneously convey the same to a central position to be conveyed from the vein.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a continuous mining machine as described which is relatively simple in construction, having but a few movable parts which can be driven by a simple driving mechanism and which are operable to efficiently cut material from mine veins of varying height including relatively low seams having a height of less than 40 inches.

These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent during the course of the following detailed description and appended claims.

The invention may best be understood with respect to the accompanying drawings wherein an illustrative embodiment is shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a continuous mining machine embodying the principles of the present invention; and

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view showing the cutting head end of the machine.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown therein a continuous mining machine, generally indicated at 16, 'which embodies the principles of the present invention. The machine includes a main frame 12 which is supported for movement along a mine bottorn by a pair of transversely spaced endless tread assemblies 14. The frame 12 and tread assemblies 14 are preferably constructed in accordance with usual practice and embody structure conventionally utilized in prior art crawler type continuous miningmachines. It will be understood that such conventional construction embodies a power source carried by the frame for driving the endless tread assemblies and suitable controls for selectively operating the driving mechanism so that either or both endless tread assemblies may be advanced or reversed to thereby effect a desired forward, turning or rearward movement of the machine.

The central portion of the frame throughout its longitudinal extent is provided with an endless scraper conveyor structure, generally indicated at 16. Here again, the conveyor may be of conventional design of the type embodied in the prior art continuous mining machines. In brief, the conveyor structure provides an upwardly U-shaped pan construction, indicated at 18, within the central portion of which the upper flight of an endless chain 20 engages. The chain 20 has a series of longitudinally spaced flight bars 22 mounted thereon and eX- tending transversely from opposite sides thereof which are adapted to move with the upper flight of the chain within the conveyor pan 18 in a rearward direction, as shown in FIGURE 1, to thereby convey cut material deposited therein rearwardly of the frame 12. It will be understood that the chain is trained about forward and rearward sprockets 24, the rearward sprocket being driven, by any suitable means, such as a motor 26 schematically illustrated in FIGURE 1. It will also be understood that the conveyor structure 16 in the usual fashion provides for the support of the lower return flight of the endless chain 20 and the flight bars 22 carried thereby. As already indicated, the motor 26 is operable to effect movement of the endless chain in a direction such that the upper flight thereof moves rearwardly.

The forward sprocket wheel 24 is fixed to a shaft 28 which extends transversely of the frame 12 substantially throughout the width of the latter including the endless .tread assemblies 14. The ends of the shaft 28 are journaled in the outer ends of a pair of laterally extending scoop sections 30 which are rigidly secured to the forward end of the conveyor pan 18 and each has a leading transverse edge 32 disposed forwardly of the shaft to engage the mine bottom. Each scoop section 30 includes an upwardly and rearwardly concavely arcuate wall 34 which cooperates with a gathering scroll 36 fixed on the shaft 28. It will be understood that each gathering scroll 36 is pitched to convey material in a direction toward the central conveyor structure 16. As shown, the shaft'28 is also supported adjacent the inner end of the scrolls by brackets 38 which extend above the shaft 28 and provide for passage of material conveyed by the gathering scrolls into the conveyor structure 16 therebelow.

The continuous mining machine 10 of the present invention also provides a cutting head, generally indicated at 40, which is of the rotary type operable to cut material from a mine vein by vertical swinging movement with respect to the vein and rotary' movement of the cutting head about an axis parallel to the mine face. The cutting head 40 includes a pair of transversely spaced mounting arms 42 each of which is connected with the frame 12 at the forward end thereof adjacent one side of the frame. As shown, the frame includes a bearing member 44 fixed to the associated side of the frame having a shaft 46 extending laterally therefrom through the adjacent end of the associated arm 42. The arms are thus connected to the frame for swinging movement about a common transverse horizontal axis disposed rearwardly and somewhat above the axis of rotation of the shaft 28.

Mounted on each shaft 46 is a sprocket wheel 48 and a cooperating larger sprocket wheel 50 is journaled on the outer end of each mounting arm 42, the sprocket wheels 50 being fixedly connected to a common shaft 52 extending between the outer ends of the arms 42 for rotation with the sprocket wheels 50 about a transverse horizontal axis parallel to the axis of the shaft 28 and shafts 46. Trained about each pair of aligned sprocket wheels 48 and 50 is an endless chain 54 having a series of spaced cutting teeth 56 extending outwardly therefrom on opposite sides thereof. The cutting teeth 56 carried by the endless chains 54 serve as side cutters of the cutting head 49.

Fixed to the shaft 52 is a pair of auger cutter sections 58. Each auger section comprises a pair of helical blades 60 having their inner peripheries fixedly secured to the adjacent portion of the shaft 52 and their outer peripheries of a substantially constant radial extent. Preferably, the helical blades of each auger section are spaced longitudinally apart so that they are substantially 180" out of phase with respect to each other. The helical blades of each section have the same pitch with respect to each other and an opposite pitch with respect to the blades of the other section. Of course, the pitch of the blades of each section is such that when rotated they will serve to convey the material inwardly toward the forward end of the centrally disposed conveyor 16.

The outer periphery of each helical blade of each auger section has fixedly secured thereto a plurality of spaced blade bit or tooth holders 62 arranged to receive blade bits or teeth 64 of conventional structure which extend outwardly of the outer periphery of the blades. The blades of each auger section are spaced so as to be disposed in planes, perpendicular to the axis of the shaft 52, which are spaced apart equally in the longitudinal direction; the teeth in successive planes being disposed on alternate blades. Stated differently, the teeth or bits are so arranged that the bits on each blade are spaced apart equally in a longitudinal or axial direction and the teeth on one blade are positioned longitudinally midway of the spaces between adjacent teeth of the other blade.

The spacing of the teeth as described above is of considerable importance in obtaining a proper cutting action from the auger sections 58. It will be noted that due to the central offsetting of the teeth on each blade from the adjacent pair of teeth on the associated otherblade, the first set of teeth will progressively engage the mine face at spaced positions during rotation and before these same teeth again engage the face the teeth of the other blade will engage the face at positions intermediate the engagement of the teeth of the first blade. In this way, the material of the mine face is disintegrated in a highly satisfactory manner with a minimum of power application and without the possibility of coring. It will also be understood that the blades serve to convey the material simultaneously with the cutting action in a direction toward the forward end of the central conveyor structure 16, as indicated above.

As can be clearly seen from FIGURE 2, the inner ends of the auger sections terminate in spaced relation with respect to each other at positions adjacent the outer ends of the conveyor flights 22. Fixed on the shaft 52 between the augersections is a pair of transversely spaced centrally located cutting disks 66, each of which has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the helical blades 60 and has a plurality of blade bits or teeth 68 carried thereby in positions spaced circumferentially therearound so as to extend outwardly of the periphery thereof.

Any suitable means may be provided for driving the cutting head 40. As shown, there is provided on the frame 12 an electric motor 70 which is drivingly connected with one of the shafts 46, as for example, the right hand shaft as shown in FIGURE 2, through a conventional power transmission assembly contained within a gear box 72. It will be understood that the gear box 72 contains conventional reduction gears of any desired design, the specific embodiment of which need not be shown in the drawings.

Suitable means is also provided for effecting a vertical swinging movement of the cutting head 40 about the common transverse horizontal axis of the shafts 46. To this end, each arm includes a rigid bifurcated lug 74 adapted to pivotally receive the outer end of a piston rod 76 forming a part of a conventional hydraulic ram assembly 78. The cylinder of the ram assembly is suitably pivoted to the frame 12, as indicated at 80 in FIGURE 1. It will be understood that an appropriate hydraulic circuit containing control valves (not shown) is provided for actuating the ram assemblies 78. In FIGURE 2 there is shown a hydraulic pump 82 driven by a motor 84 which constitutes a part of the hydraulic system.

Operation In operation, it will be understood that the motor 26 serves to effect movement of the conveyor 16 in a direction such that the flight bars 22 connected with the upper flight of the endless chain 20 will move through the conveyor pan 18 toward the rearward end of the frame. Thus, the shaft 28 which carries the gathering scrolls 36 will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 1. The gathering scrolls 36 are oppositely pitched in a direction to convey materialengaged thereby inwardly toward the centrally disposed conveyor 16. The motor 70 and gear box 72 is operable to effect rotation of the cutting head in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 1. It will be noted that shaft 52 is rotated by the motor 70 and gear box 72 through the right hand shaft 46, the sprocket wheel 48 fixed thereto, the right hand sprocket wheel 50 fixed to the shaft 52 and the right hand endless chain 54. The left hand endless chain will be moved in its path about the left hand sprocket wheels 48 and 50 by the rotation of the shaft 52.

As best shown in FIGURE 1, it is preferable to advance thecutting head into the mine face with the auger sections disposed in their uppermost position. During the advance of the cutting head into the upper portion of the mine face the auger sections serve to cut and disintegrate the material by the engagement of the teeth 64 therewith, in the manner indicated above, while atthe same time the helical blade 60 of each auger section serve to convey the disintegrated material inwardly toward the cutting disks 66 adjacent the forward end of the conveyor 16. Of course, the cut material is picked up by the conveyor 16 and moved to the rearward end thereof where other continuous conveyors (not shown) of conventional construction utilized with the mining machine serve to carry the disintegrated material out of the mine. Of course, any material engaged by the gathering scrolls will also ,be conveyed thereby to the centrally located conveyor 16.

After the advancing movement of the machine has been completed the hydraulic rarns 78 are actuated to swing the cutting head downwardly from the solid line position shown in FIGURE 1 to the dotted line position shown therein. Again, during this movement there is a simultaneous cutting of the material in the vein and centrally located conveyor 16.

It will be noted that the width of the cutting head 40 is greater than the width of the frame 12 including the endless tread assemblies 14. Moreover, the upper periphery of the cutting head when disposed in its uppermost position as shown in solid lines in FIGURE 1 is of a height greater than the height of the frame. Thus, the cutting head 40 is capable of removing material from the vein from an area greater than the area of the frame so as to permit the latter to be advanced therein after each cutting action. It will be understood that the machine may be advanced in this way to form the main entries, lateral entries and rooms of the mine in accordance with conventional practice. In so doing, it may become necessary to make one advance movement and then to back up and make another at a position alongside the first to provide entries and rooms of suificient width under certain conditions.

It thus will be seen that the objects of this invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It will be realized, however, that the foregoing specific embodiment has been shown and described only for the purpose of illustrating the principles of this invention and is subject to extensive change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed with in the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A continuous mining machine comprising a frame having a pair of endless tread assemblies supporting the same for movement along a mine bottom, an endless scraper conveyor carried by said frame between said assemblies, said conveyor including an upper flight extend ing from the central forward end of said frame longitudinally rearwardly, a pair of rotary gathering scrolls extending transversely outwardly from the forward end of said conveyor, a pair of arms mounted on opposite sides of said frame adjacent the forward end thereof for pivotal movement about a transverse horizontal axis, said arms extending forwardly beyond said scrolls, a shaft carried by the outer ends of said arms for rotation about a transverse horizontal axis, a first sprocket wheel fixed to each end of said shaft, said first sprocket wheels being spaced apart a distance greater than the width of said frame and disposed outwardly of the associated endless tread assembly, a second sprocket wheel disposed in substantial longitudinal alignment with each of said first sprocket wheels and mounted for rotation about the pivotal axis of said arms, an endless chain trained about each pair of aligned sprocket wheels, each of said chains having a series of spaced digging teeth mounted thereon, means for rotating one of said second sprocket wheels, a pair of auger sections carried by said shaft at positions substantially coextensive with said scrolls, each of said I auger sections including a pair of helical blades fixed to said shaft in spaced relation, each of said blades having a series of teeth fixed adjacent the outer periphery thereof and extending outwardly thereof, the teeth of said blades being disposed in planes perpendicular to the axis of said shaft spaced equally from each other, the teeth in successive planes being disposed on alternate blades,

the helical blades of each section being of the same pitch with respect to each other and of an opposite pitch with respect to the blades of the other section and related to the direction of rotation of said shaft to move material engaged thereby inwardly, rotary cutting means separate from said auger sections carried by the central portion of said shaft intermediate said auger sections, and means for pivoting said arms about their pivot axis.

2. A continuous mining machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said centrally located rotary cutting means comprises a pair of spaced disks fixed to said shaft, said disks having a plurality of circumferentially spaced cutting teeth fixed thereto and extending outwardly of the periphery thereof.

3. A continuous mining machine as defined in claim 2 wherein said helical blades have a constant radius and said disks have a radius equal thereto.

4-. In a continuous mining machine, a cutting head mounted for up and down swinging movement about a horizontal axis, said head including a pair of horizontally spaced arms, a first sprocket wheel mounted adjacent one end of each of said arms for rotation about said horizontal axis, a second sprocket wheel mounted on the other end of each of said arms in substantial alignment r with the associated first sprocket wheel, a toothed endless chain trained about each associated pair of first and second sprocket wheels, a shaft extending between said arms and fixed to said second sprocket wheels for rotation therewith about a horizontal axis, an anger section carried by said shaft adjacent each of said second sprocket wheels, each of said auger sections including a pair of helical blades fixed to said shaft in spaced relation, each of said blades having a series of teeth fixed adjacent the outer periphery thereof and extending outwardly thereof, the teeth of said blades being disposed in planes perpendicular to the axis of said shaft spaced equally from each other, the teeth in successive planes being disposed on alternate blades, the helical blades of each section being of the same pitch with respect to each other and of opposite pitch with respect to the blades of the other section, and rotary cutting means separate from said auger sections carried by the central portion of said shaft intermediate said auger sections.

5. A cutting head as defined in claim 4 wherein said helical blades are of constant radial extent.

6. A cutting head as defined in claim 5 wherein said rotary cutting means comprises a pair of disks fixed to said shaft, said disks being of a radial extent substantially equal to the radial extent of said helical blades and having a plurality of fixed spaced teeth extending outwardly therefrom,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,143,897 Flexner et a1 June 22, 1915 1,336,440 OToole Apr. 13, 1920 1,811,927 Halleck June 30, 1931 2,689,720 Cartlidge Sept. 21, 1954 2,696,375 Huff Dec. 7, 1954- 2,841,379 Driehaus July 1, 1958 

